ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
A global manufacturer of precision-engineered hardware and industrial components, founded nearly 100 years ago and established in North America for 40 years. The company is an innovation leader, holding over 2,000 patents and pioneering the soft-close and motion-control technology now common across countless products. Its components solve engineering challenges across food equipment, medical instruments, defense, aerospace (AS9120 certified), automation, robotics, consumer electronics, and general manufacturing. Products are sold both direct to OEMs and through a North American distribution network. A lean, entrepreneurial, tight-knit team of roughly 50 in the U.S. with a strong culture and low turnover. This is a growth-driven expansion adding multiple territory reps. This is a confidential search; company name disclosed upon mutual interest.
THE ROLE
Industrial Sales Representative responsible for managing an established base of business while developing new business across a large, multi-state territory. This is a consultative, project-based technical sale, not transactional order-taking. The representative is a problem solver who walks a manufacturer's production line, identifies pain points, and matches the company's engineered components and technology to the customer's application. The core objective is reaching the engineer or decision maker and getting products specified into current and future projects. Business runs through both direct OEM relationships and a distributor network, so the rep manages and trains distributor partners while also selling direct to key manufacturers and OEMs. Sales cycles are long and can run up to two years, so patience, organization, and self-direction are essential.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Manage and grow an inherited base of established accounts and distributor relationships within the territory.
• Develop new business with manufacturers, OEMs, distributors, and design engineers.
• Reach engineers and decision makers to get products specified into current and future projects.
• Walk production lines, identify pain points, and recommend engineered component solutions.
• Train and support distributor sales representatives; provide merchandising, promotions, and technical support.
• Prospect and follow up with engineers, designers, fabricators, distributors, and OEMs to secure projects.
• Participate in trade shows, channel partner exhibits, and trade association events.
• Research and analyze the territory's industries, macroeconomics, and competitive landscape.
• Provide quarterly presentations to executives with market analysis, sales results, and project updates.
• Manage the territory independently with strong forecasting, project management, and CRM discipline.
WHY THIS ROLE
A rare seat at an innovation-driven manufacturer where the rep owns a large territory and a diverse, ever-expanding set of industries:
Own A Territory Like A Business
• Manage an established base with real autonomy, plus uncapped upside on the new business you develop.
• A lean, entrepreneurial company where you are trusted to self-direct, not micromanaged.
Endless Industries To Sell Into
• The product line spans food equipment, medical, defense, aerospace, automation, robotics, electronics, and more, with new industries emerging constantly (data centers, robotics).
• Never boring: no fixed account list, always a new application or industry to pursue.
Innovation And Support Behind You
• Over 2,000 patents and 125+ engineers developing products; you sell proprietary technology, not a commodity.
• Strong inside and technical support, a collaborative culture, and leadership that invests in developing its people.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
• Bachelor's degree in a business-related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• 3 to 5+ years of successful B2B sales experience.
• Consultative, solution-oriented seller comfortable with long (up to 2-year) project sales cycles.
• Engineering curiosity: a problem solver with a genuine interest in how things are made and manufactured.
• Self-directed and self-sufficient: strong prospecting, research, follow-up, forecasting, and project management.
• Hunter mindset balanced with the discipline to nurture and grow existing accounts and distributor partners.
• Comfortable with a large multi-state territory and the associated travel (roughly 50 percent).
• Experience with industrial OEMs, distributor sales, engineers, designers, or equipment fabricators a plus.
• Proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and CRM systems.
• Transferable backgrounds welcome: technical/industrial component or equipment sales, or consultative sellers from adjacent fields (including hospitality or food and beverage) with the curiosity and drive to learn.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
• Base salary: approximately $80,000 benchmark, with flexibility for the right candidate (DOE).
• Commission: uncapped and tiered, paid quarterly, with additional target-related amounts paid in January. First-year inherited commissions estimated around $20K above base, with higher project years reaching $25K to $35K+.
• Car allowance of $660 per month, plus mileage-based fuel reimbursement and travel reimbursement.
• Company-provided work phone and laptop.
• Medical and dental fully paid for the employee; 50 percent covered for dependents. 401(k) match up to 4 percent.
• Travel varies by territory, roughly up to 50 percent (one example: 3 weeks in-state, 1 week out-of-state per month).
• No visa sponsorship. No relocation allowance.